After graduating from Moscow State Regional Institute of Humanities, Kristina worked as a teacher in a primary school but then joined Angel as a manager, later was promoted to a senior manager to streamline Angel’s English service and finally became Key Account Manager for corporate clients

Alexander is a former TU-134 radio technician and Sr. Lieutenant, father of 4. After studying Orthodox Christian Theology at St. Tikhon Orthodox University & working with Angel, he took a priest position in a cathedral.

Rostov Veliky (Rostov the Great in English) is the oldest town in the North-East of Russia, located 202 km north-east from Moscow. Rostov Veliky is one of the townsor the Golden Ring, a ring of ancient towns located northeast of Moscow. Rostov Veliky is one of the most interesting cities of the Golden Ring. ‘The eternal city of Russia’, ‘a symphony in stone’, ‘a miracle of the past’ – are some of the numerous references of foreign tourists about Rostov the Great.Rostov Veliky is a real tourist attraction.

Rostov Veliky boasts many beautiful sights, e.g. the Rostov Kremlin, which in old Russian language meant a citadel. Rostov Veliky was first mentioned in chronicles in 862. Rostov Veliky is one of oldest Russian cities, it is nearly three centuries older than Moscow. The name Velikyis used to distinguish it from Rostov-on-Don and to emphasize the importance of the city among other Russian cities. At the end of the 1st millennium, Rostov Veliky was a vibrant, densely populated city, an important center of Russian lands. It was also a spiritual center of Russia as it is a birthplace of Saint Sergiy Radonezhsky, founder of St. Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad.

Rostov Veliky has been also famous for the chimes of the bell tower of Rostov Kremlin, with an inimitable sound which can be heard for miles and miles around.

The Rostov Kremlin stands on the shore of the Nero Lake and the white-stoned walls and towers of Rostov Kremlin are reflected in the lake’s water. Rostov Kremlin, built in the 17th century, made the city even more famous. Rostov Kremlin is also very famous Russians as it was filmed in an overwhelmingly popular Russian comedy about Soviet life and Ivan the Terrible times.

Rostov Veliky is also known as the center of ‘finift’ production, Russian enamel art and handicraft of miniature painting on enamel, which has been developed in Rostov Veliky since mid-18th century.

The collections of 14th-18th century icons, ancient pottery, and Rostov's finift are on display at the RostovKremlin and are world known.

Tour to Rostov Veliky is convenient to combine within Tour to Sergiev Posad as a part of the Golden Ring Tour.

The Kremlin in Rostov Veliky

The Rostov Kremlin is one of the main tourist attractions of Rostov. Kremlin in old Russian meant a citadel or a fortress in a town. Many Russian ancient cities have their own Kremlins (Moscow, first of all). These Kremlins are fortress walls (made of stone or earth) encircling ancient buildings on their territories.

However, Rostov Veliky Kremlin is not a real Kremlin (a real fortress) in technical terms. Its Kremlin walls (whatever impressive they are) wouldn’t protect the city from enemy or besiege.

Most of the Rostov Kremlin buildings were erected between the 1670s and 1680s. The west and north gates were built with gate-churches which boast 17th century frescoes.

The metropolitan's private chapel, the Church of the Saviour-over-the-Galleries, covered in colorful 17th century frescoes, has the most impressive interior of all.

Another main tourist attraction of Rostov Veliky is Assumption Cathedral outside the Rostov Kremlin. The Assumption Cathedral dominates the Kremlin. It has a famous belfry with huge 15 bells in descending sizes, the heaviest one weighing more than 32 ton. Assumption Cathedral in Rostov Veliky, with its five magnificent onion cupolas, was built in early 16-th century, a century before Rostov Kremlin. At that time Rostov Veliky was the center of Russian Orthodox Christianity.

The belfry was added to the Cathedral in the 1680’s. Visiting the top of the belfry during the tour to Rostov Veliky will open you a breath-taking view of the town and its enourmous Nero Lake. The French composer Hector Berlioz came to listen to its bells.

Spaso Yakovlevsky Monastery in Rostov

Still another impressive tourist attraction of Rostov Veliky is Spaso-Iakovlevsky Monastery, founded in 1389, i.e. earlier than the Rostov Kremlin was founded. Many churches of is Spaso-Iakovlevsky Monastery and its gates are made in the Empire style which elements you can see in the photos below. Spaso-Iakovlevsky Monastery is still under restoration but even being restored its magnificent 19th century cathedral is well worth seeing for for its architectural grandeur.

The city of Rostov

Visiting Rostov Town Market will bring you back to 1990-s - at least how markets in Moscow looked at that time.

Finift in Rostov

Rostov Veliky is also world-famous for its finift, traditional Russian enamel jewelry. Finift came to Russia from Bizantine Empire in the 10th century and spread here in the 16-17th centuries. It was often used in metal covers of the icons. Finift is unique painting on enamel. In Rostov Veliky you can see the production process, best examples of finift and buy different finift items.